Angry farmers cry foul

Written by Mathew Lemisio
Sunday, 27 January 2008
*This little girl with an older relative was trying to sweep off the water from reaching her family’s stall at the market in Fugalei.* Smiling was the last thing farmers at the Fugalei market wanted to give as they try to sell their products, or what was left of them, on Friday. That’s because Friday’s flooding left most of them scrambling for their products, namely taros, coconuts and various vegetables as flooding water took them as it streamed all over Apia. The water in the market was at knee high, as it was in most places. Farmers were forced to close down their stalls as they try to look for higher places in the market to put their products on. Some managed to save some of their products but most couldn’t as there were not enough high stalls available. “This is really frustrating,” one angry woman told this reporter. “It’s very lucky that this is happening during the day. If this was happening at night time, gee it could have been worse for us.” The woman who asked not to be named said she felt the government and the market authority are not doing enough to help them farmers. “The government has been saying that they’re trying to help us farmers,” she continued. “They even said that’s the reason why they’re switching to right hand drive. “But look at this? Is this a sign of a government trying to help its farmers? I don’t think so. Look at how much money we have lost today. If this is how we’re treated then I guess there’s no point engaging in farming anymore.” The woman said the facilities they used to sell their product at the market were not adequate. “Take a look at these stalls,” she said pointing at the stalls used to see their products. “This morning most of there barely stood the water. Actually most of the stalls were under water. “We have raised this with the market management and they told us that they will look into it, but look at what’s happening now.” Few blocks down from this woman’s stall, a number of farmers, even little kids were seen trying tirelessly to sweep out the water from reaching their blocks. But cars entering the market from the eastern side did not help. Some drivers showed little consideration to these farmers demise as they drove faster then most drivers did causing waves that pushed more water further into the market. Newsline was present when a couple of drivers drove pass in that manner. “You see that,” the woman said. “Police should block this road at least until the water subsided.” But it would be hard to say that Police were not doing their job as throughout most roads two or three Police officers were trying to control the flow of traffic. Water started to settle down at the market around 4pm but it was too little to late for most farmers as their day’s business had been ruined. Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Sunday, 27 January 2008 )

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